A SERIES of events to celebrate the District Line’s 150th anniversary is announced today by Transport for London.

The line, which initially consisted of five stations, opened on December 24, 1868. In 1869, the service was extended westward to West Brompton and, in 1870, eastward to Blackfriars.  

Within 40 years of opening, it was running services to Ealing, Hounslow, Putney, East Ham, and New Cross. For a short time, there were even District Line trains to Windsor and Southend-on-Sea.

The District line now has 60 stations, more than any other line on the Underground, and more than 220 million journeys take place on it annually.

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Leaflets about its history will be handed out, while Cultural Tube maps, highlighting a range of fun places to visit along the line, will be placed at stations.

Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “It has seen big changes over the years, most recently with the introduction of modern, walk-through, air-conditioned trains, while the new signalling system will transform it even further.”

TfL will run a steam train along the District line later this year.

Modernisation of signalling on the Hammersmith & City, District, Circle and Metropolitan lines means that it will be the last time a steam train will be able to travel through the central section of the Underground.

Tours of Acton Town station and an open weekend at London Transport Museum’s depot in Acton Town will take place in April. 

Pay-as-you-go fares along the line start from £2.40 for journeys through Zone 1, with £1.50 for journeys outside Zone 1 during off-peak hours.